The thunder trade for Robert Williams III would be incredibly stupid for two main reasons

The injury count continues to mount in this OKC Thunder frontcourt as they received another devastating health update following Sunday night’s loss to the Golden State Warriors.

After a bad fall to the floor during a layup contest by Andrew Wiggins in the first quarter, budding star big man Chet Holmgren was helped to the locker room and was soon ruled out of the remainder of the contest.

Hours after the final buzzer of the game sounded, it was announced that the sophomore had suffered a fracture of the right iliac wing in his right hip and would be sidelined for the next eight to 10 weeks.

Not only is this devastating because Holmgren is one of OKC’s key center pieces, but it also represents another blow to the ballclub’s already depleted interior depth, as all three options they’re relying on are now him, Isaiah Hartenstein, lay. and Jaylin Williams will be found courtside in street clothes for the foreseeable future.

Of course, this unfortunate situation the Thunder find themselves in has encouraged fans, pundits and keyboard warriors alike to play the role of the fictional GM, with a mission to find possible targets that Sam Presti and Co. might pursue, to enhance their strength as a big man.

Many different names have been mentioned as potential options during these exercises, with players ranging from veterans still on the free agency market to proven contributors currently playing on opposing teams.

However, not all suggestions are grounded in reality, and one popular name that cannot be considered a realistic option is Portland Trail Blazers center Robert Williams III.

Over the course of his seven-year professional career, Robert Williams III has established himself as a truly formidable center talent who can battle the boards, protect the paint and run rushing offenses at an elite level.

Additionally, his per-100 averages are absolutely sensational as he boasts career stats of 17.6 points, 16.5 rebounds (6.1 on offense) and 4.0 blocks while shooting 72.9 percent from the floor .

Unfortunately, these talking points are certainly undeniable, but another, perhaps more notable adjective used to describe Williams is injury-prone.

Since entering the league in 2018, the big man has only played in a 35-game season twice and only recently returned to the hardwood after a 2023-24 season in which he played just six games.

When active, the man known as Timelord is a tremendous two-way contributor who, quite frankly, brings a lot of traits that this Thunder team could use more of (rim protection, rebounding, menacing paint presence, etc.).

However, the idea of ​​adding another big man to Oklahoma City’s arsenal is to add injury insurance in response to Holmgren’s recent illness, as well as for the various other big players on their depth chart who are currently suffering from health issues of their own.

So why would this front office sign a player whose career injury list is longer than a CVS receipt?

Sam Presti has already spoken publicly and indicated that he is not willing to make any trades during the season because he believes they “always involve a lot of risk.”

A deal for Williams would completely contradict that sentiment.

Furthermore, it’s not like the Thunder won’t be getting frontcourt reinforcements that are already on the payroll soon.

It was announced Monday that forward Kenrich Williams has been cleared to return to play after a two-month absence that forced him to the sidelines for the entire preseason and the first 10 games of the regular season.

Soon, both Isaiah Hartenstein (who is already in practice, mind you) and Jaylin Williams will return to the rotation, keeping the position down during Holmgren’s absence.

Sure, in the short term, Robert Williams could be a permanent part of this pivot pool, but once all of the current Thunder bigs are medically cleared, his arrival would make things even tighter, and it’s not like he’s a replaceable talent moving forward could expand This coaching staff’s desire to run positionless lineups that offer more flexibility – the 27-year-old is a center and that’s all!

Now, that doesn’t mean Presti and Co. should avoid adding a traditional five. However, spending assets on a limited talent, even one as promising as Williams when healthy, may not be the best course of action.